Monthly Archives: May 2013

A couple days after reading and reviewing Artemis Fowl, I was walking through the book store
when I saw a graphic novel version of that same book. “Preposterous!” I thought (with a British accent). “Downright farcical.The cheek! To turn Artemis Fowl into a comic. . . well!” OK, I didn’t think that at all; that was pretty much my Artemis Fowl impression. Terrible, I know.

As it happens, I’m actually a big fan of graphic novels. Artemis Fowl is a very
visual book, with lots of descriptions of the fairy world, Artemis’s enormous manor, and crazy fairy inventions tearing Artemis’s manor apart, so I couldn’t resist the urge to pick up the comic and see that world come to life.

I’m not sure if the graphic novel version quite lives up to the (admittedly high) standard of the book, but pretty much everything is there – all the characters, all the plot points, all the sweet action and gadgets and magic and mayhem. I had small quibbles with the way some characters were drawn, but that’s inevitable, I suppose. Personally, I pictured Foaly and Mulch much more like traditional Centaurs and Dwarves, and Artemis kind of like Malfoy from the Harry Potter movies . . . but again, that’s personal taste, and I shouldn’t complain about the art. In general, it was colorful, vibrant, creative, and well-executed.

As you know, summer reading is AWESOME because you get to read whatever you want as much as you want. You don’t have to do homework or write book reports, and you don’t have to get up for school in the morning, so if your parents let you, you can read in bed until way late! Ah, I remember those summer days and nights of endless reading . . .

The Scholastic Summer Challenge is kicking off this week, so you can put all that reading to good use. Log your reading minutes and you will reach reading milestones, have a chance to win prizes, and possibly help break the world reading record.

This week’s milestone is The Coliseum. It is the ancient Roman stadium where gladiators used to fight for glory and honor. . . and their lives. We are not going to ask you to engage in hand-to-hand combat, obviously. But you can relive the glory of Ancient Rome by voting for your faves in the Clash of the Titles game. 2 books face off cover to cover, and YOU get to pick the winner.

The Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge is on! Starting today, you can compete in the ULTIMATE summer reading challenge to set a new reading world record! Log your reading minutes every day, earn virtual badges, and participate in weekly challenges to win extra prizes. What could be more fun?

As you log your minutes, you’ll also read around the world as you move up the Reading Meter! The more you read, the farther you travel— from the Coliseum to the Taj Mahal to Mount Everest! With each landmark, you can watch fun videos from Scholastic News Kid Reporters, who share interesting facts about each place.

Just about every school has a dress code of some kind. Some schools have uniforms and are very strict about them. Some schools have uniforms, but there is room for some creative expression as long as you follow the rules. Some schools don’t allow tank tops or shorts. Some schools don’t allow hats.

Today’s Writing Prompt puts the school dress code question to you. How do you deal with your school’s dress code? Is it possible to follow the rules and still show your own unique style?

How do you dress for success at school? Leave your answers in the Comments!

Mother’s Day in the U.S. is on the second Sunday in May. Are you ready to shower your mother with gifts and praise? Make her feel really special because you know she does a lot for you! And don’t forget the other “moms” in your life, too: grandmothers, aunts, step-mothers, even teachers.

Here are some videos, articles, and activities to get you inspired to give your mom a perfect day.

In the movie Space Warriors (rated PG), Jimmy Hawkins has always dreamed of traveling to outer space. When an opportunity arises to compete and win a seat on the next space shuttle, Jimmy desperately wants to apply. Knowing his parents would not approve, he secretly applies to attend a special space camp at the Space & Rocket Center. The summer camp is designed to pull teens with scientific specialties from across the globe to create an elite team, The Warriors. This team will battle for the chance to win a seat on the next shuttle into space.

We got to speak to one of the actors in the movie, Thomas Kasp about the movie, and his experience filming at Space Camp.

As a relatively new clue hunter, I've spent a lot of time reading up on Amy and Dan's adventures. So it didn't take me long to realize that they are ALL THAT. Here are a few reasons why I can't get enough of the Cahills:

When they miss school, it's because they're saving the world. I don't know about you, but I remember spending most of my sick days watching bad TV, trying to fall asleep, and just waiting to feel better. Every now and then, I'd get a burst of energy and make my way to the kitchen for a snack. And sometimes (maybe), I'd do homework. All in all, I think we can agree that I've just described a less than thrilling Monday. But when Amy and Dan take the day off, they're out fighting Vespers, traveling the world, and hunting for capital-C Clues. So yeah, while I was watching America's Funniest Home Videos with a fever of 101, Dan was escaping a deadly yakuza in Japan…NOT fair!

Even when they hate each other, they, you know, love each other. Like all siblings, Amy and Dan may resist the urge to smack each other every chance they get, but they're always looking out for the other. And after their grandmother, Grace, leaves them to embark on the Clue hunt, they realize just how important family truly is. Even through the hiccups—like, for instance, their own relatives' attempts to KILL them–Amy and Dan never lose faith in family. And take it from me (the annoying little sister to two brothers) when I say that’s admirable.

Girl power. Have you ever played that game in which you have to pick the cartoon character that best resembles your personality? It can take a while to find your perfect TV match, but that’s half the fun of it. Long ago, after much deliberation, I chose Kimpossible, the ultimate symbol of girl power . . . UNTIL, that is, Amy Cahill rocked the world with her awesome moves and no-fuss style. Over the course of The 39 Clues, Amy transforms from this shy and frightened kid into the charismatic, brave leader of the Cahills. She voluntarily (VOLUNTARILY!) undergoes INTENSE physical and mental training and leads her entire family through the worst of times—all with a flick of her hair and words that leave boys drooling. Sorry, guys, but Amy’s my homegirl.

For all these reasons and more, I’m beyond excited for the newest Cahill Files book in hardcover. I’m pretty old-fashioned when it comes to e-readers, so I can’t wait to get my hands on SPYMASTERS. It’s a collection of THREE previously published e-book adventures that explore the secret lives and histories of Cahill members you might be surprised you already know . . . And if these people paved the way for Amy and Dan, then I’m game.

While it's never true, most of us feel like a loser at one point or another. For Danny Shine, the main character in The Loser List series by H.N. Kowitt, it's when he discovers his name on a "geek list" in the girls' bathroom.

But in Book #3: Jinx of the Loser, he feels like more than a loser; he feels like a jinx, too! After being in the wrong place at the wrong time – when the baseball team loses the big game and then when the roller coaster breaks down at a school trip to the amusement park – Danny just can't catch a break.